Roman Toga

  • The Roman Toga was a semi-circular garment made from Wool.
  • The Toga was a symbol of Roman Citizenship and was denied to Foreigners, Exiled Roman Citizens and Slaves. Roman women did not wear the Toga.

Under the Empire

  • Under the Empire, the Toga was no longer worn as everyday dress but on ceremonial occasions, and different Togas symbolised different Roman Officials.
  • Augustus decreed the Toga must be worn at the Forum or Circus, and it remained the Court Dress of the Empire.
  • As it was not convenient for soldiers to wear, it also came to be a symbol of peace.
  • Slaves wore the Tunica and were forbidden to wear the Toga.

Folding the Toga

  • A piece of cloth was held under the right arm:
  • The back part is folded over the left shoulder
  • The front part is also folded over the left shoulder

Types of Toga

  1. Toga Virilis
    • A Plain White Toga worn on Formal Occasions by Roman Men of Legal Age (14-18 yrs upwards)
  2. Toga Candida
    • Bright Toga bleached by Chalk.
    • Worn by Candidates for Public Office
  3. Toga Praetexta
    • White Toga with a purple stripe on the border
    • Worn according to Tradition by the Kings of Rome.
    • Quaestors.
    • Consuls.
    • Censors.
    • Also Freeborn Roman boys, All Curule Magistrates, Ex-Curule Magistrates and Dictators at Festivals and when they were buried, and certain Priests.
  4. Toga Pulla
    • A dark Toga worn by mourners.
  5. Toga Picta
    • Purple with embroidered gold, worn by Generals for their Triumphs. Also worn by the Praetor Urbanis when he rode into the Circus in the Chariot of the Gods to preside over the Ludi Apollinares.
    • Under the Empire, it was worn by Magistrates giving public Gladiatorial Games and Consuls
    • The Emperor wore this on special occasions
  6. Toga Trabea
    • Three kinds: Purple for the Gods, Purple with white for Kings, scarlet stripes and a purple hem for Augurs and Salii. Equestrians may also have worn this.
    • The Roman Emperor wore an entirely purple Toga or the Black Toga Pulla for funerals.
  7. Saffron Toga
    • Only worn by Augurs and Priestesses. White with a purple band.

List of Officials and their Togas

  • Augur: Saffron Toga and Toga Trabea
  • Emperor: Toga Trabea
  • Censor: Toga Praetexta
  • Consul: Toga Praetexta, Toga Picta
  • Curule Magistrates: Toga Praetexta
  • Dictator: Toga Praetexta
  • Equestrian: Toga Trabea
  • Generals celebrating their Roman Triumph: Toga Picta
  • Gods and their statues: Toga Trabea
  • Kings: Toga Trabea
  • Mourners: Toga Pulla
  • Salii: Saffron Toga
  • Praetor Urbanus: Toga Picta
  • Praetorian Guard: Did not wear the Toga
  • Priests: Toga Praetexta
  • Priestesses: Saffron Toga
  • Quaestor: Toga Praetexta
  • Roman Men of legal age: Toga Virilis
  • Senators: Toga Praetexta
  • Slaves: Forbidden to wear the Toga and wore the Tunica instead depending on their status
  • Women: Did not wear the Toga

 

Posted in .